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Berne Notification No. 34 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

Signatory Countries of the Paris Act (1971)

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and, in accordance with the provisions of Article 37(5) of the Paris Act (1971) of the above Convention, has the honor to notify him that at the expiration of the required period (that is, on January 31, 1972) the following countries had signed the said Act:

- Belgium, on August 12, 1971; Uruguay, on October 4, 1971; Norway, on December 28, 1971; Finland, on January 25, 1972; Japan, on January 25, 1972; Austria, on January 28, 1972; Romania, on January 31, 1972; (total: 35 countries).

At the time of signature, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania declared that it intended to avail itself of the right provided for under the Article 7(7) of the said Act regarding the term of protection. Furthermore, this Government declared that it does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 33 and it is of the opinion that any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention may be brought before the International Court of Justice only with the consent of the countries concerned. Finally, it declared that "the maintenance in a state of dependency of certain territories to which the provisions of Article 31 of the Convention apply is not in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations or with the documents adopted by the United Nations concerning the grant of independence to colonial countries and peoples, including the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, unanimously adopted by Resolution No. 2625 (XXV) of the 1970 General Assembly of the United Nations, which solemnly proclaims the duty of States to promote realization of the principle of equal rights and self determination of peoples, in order to bring a speedy end to colonialism." (WIPO translation).

The Director General of WIPO wishes to draw attention to the fact that all the signatures were affixed subject to ratification.